[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 644, TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE 
                        ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2015

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, America's trade laws only work as well as they 
are enforced--which is why the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement 
Act is of such vital importance. Both versions of the bill include 
vital provisions to modernize our customs process and increase 
enforcement of our trade laws--including my bill to finally end the 
importation of goods made by child, slave and forced labor after 75 
years. It has been five months since H.R. 644 passed both the House and 
Senate and it is long past time the two versions of the bill be 
conferenced. In addition to the provision of the Senate bill which was 
used in the Democratic Motion to Instruct; there exists another, 
noncontroversial provision to combat currency manipulation in the 
legislation. Senator Bennet's amendment, which passed the Senate 
Finance Committee unanimously, has real teeth. The amendment creates 
enhanced oversight of international exchange rate policy, authorizes 
specific remedial actions for the U.S. government to pursue against 
trading partners that fail to adopt appropriate exchange rate policies, 
and provides the U.S. government with additional tools for 
strengthening trade enforcement. The language referenced in the 
Democratic Motion to Instruct is considered a poison pill by many and 
could threaten the underlying legislation which is vital to updating 
our trade enforcement laws for the 21st century.
  There are a number of vital differences between the House and Senate 
versions which will meaningfully impact the United States' ability to 
enforce our trade laws that must be a priority as we move into the 
conference process. Differences such as the ENFORCE Act, which helps to 
enforce duty evasion; creating an enforcement and capacity building 
fund using a portion of penalties paid by foreign trade cheats; holding 
our trading partners accountable for this uneven enforcement of 
environmental regulations; and codifying the Interagency Trade 
Enforcement Center are issues vital and cannot be bogged down. In light 
of the existence of the Bennet language which I believe substantively 
moves the ball forward on currency manipulation, while I support the 
spirit of the Motion to Instruct I believe it is more important that 
the customs bill not be bogged down by a controversial provision which 
could potentially lead to retaliation which would hurt Wisconsin's 
farmers, workers and businesses. Many of these other provisions will 
ultimately determine my support for the Trade Facilitation and Trade 
Enforcement Act and I hope rather than falling into partisan foxholes 
we can help move this vital piece of legislation forward in a 
bipartisan manner.

                          ____________________